UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed
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Goal 13: Climate Action
2018 Youth Design Challenge - Honorable Mention, Middle School
This design concept was developed by participants in the Institute’s Youth Design Challenge. The descriptions below are from the team’s competition entry materials.
School: Adventure Stem
Location: San Jose, CA, United States
Coach: Samantha McMillan
Team members: Theresa Nguyen, Cleo Higinio, Jewel Vijay, Rachel Ha
Video Pitch
Innovation Details
The SCD filter (Sequestering Carbon Dioxide filter) increases the ph levels in oceans as well as strengthens the oceans ability to sequester carbon dioxide. This design releases carbonate minerals (like calcium and magnesium carbonates) and lime into the oceans through a filter located on coastal lands. By doing this, the carbonate materials and lime will react with seawater to reverse the ph levels in oceans so that the level becomes neutral.
Climate change is affecting one of the largest living spaces of our planet, the oceans. Carbon dioxide is being absorbed into the water and causing the acidity of the ocean to increase. Acidity in oceans has a huge effect on marine animals as well as coastal ecosystems. It is very difficult to try to find a solution that keeps the ocean from absorbing in any CO2, but is easier to find a solution that fixes the damages after it has been done.
The SCD filter is inspired by the dermal bones in sea turtles that releases calcium and magnesium carbonates into its bloodstream to reduce acidity resulting from carbon dioxide. The design tackles the problem of the oceans water moving towards the acid end of the ph scale because it reduces the acidity of oceans, creating a safe environment for marine life and protecting coastal ecosystems.
